A ball bat configured for impacting a ball. The ball bat extends along a longitudinal axis and includes a bat frame and a pivot joint. The bat frame includes a handle portion coupled to a barrel portion. The barrel portions has a distal region. The pivot joint is coupled to the distal region of the barrel portion. The pivot joint movably supports the barrel portion relative to the longitudinal axis such that the distal region of the barrel portion may pivot towards and away from the longitudinal axis about the pivot joint.

A bat includes a ball hitting portion. The ball hitting portion includes a plurality of fiber-reinforced resin layers stacked in a radial direction relative to a center axis of the ball hitting portion. The plurality of fiber-reinforced resin layers include a first fiber-reinforced resin layer disposed at an outermost circumference in the radial direction among the plurality of fiber-reinforced resin layers. The first fiber-reinforced resin layer has a plurality of first fiber bundles and a plurality of second fiber bundles. The plurality of first fiber bundles are disposed side by side in a short side direction of each of the plurality of first fiber bundles. The plurality of second fiber bundles are disposed side by side in a short side direction of each of the plurality of second fiber bundles. The plurality of first fiber bundles and the plurality of second fiber bundles are woven across one another.

A bat includes a ball hitting portion. The ball hitting portion includes a plurality of fiber-reinforced resin layers stacked in a radial direction relative to a center axis of the ball hitting portion. The plurality of fiber-reinforced resin layers include a first fiber-reinforced resin layer disposed at an outermost circumference in the radial direction among the plurality of fiber-reinforced resin layers. The first fiber-reinforced resin layer has a plurality of first fiber bundles and a plurality of second fiber bundles. The plurality of first fiber bundles are disposed side by side in a short side direction of each of the plurality of first fiber bundles. The plurality of second fiber bundles are disposed side by side in a short side direction of each of the plurality of second fiber bundles. The plurality of first fiber bundles and the plurality of second fiber bundles are woven across one another.

A ball bat includes a barrel wall with a composite laminate structure that includes an outwardly facing skin, an inwardly facing skin, a stack of composite laminate plies positioned between the outwardly facing skin and the inwardly facing skin, and a discontinuity in the stack forming a gap along a longitudinal axis of the bat. A rigid or semi-rigid appliance may be positioned in the gap. The appliance may be a ring element, which may have a cross-section that traverses the composite laminate plies in the stack in a direction that is perpendicular or oblique to the longitudinal axis of the bat. The cross-section of the ring element may be triangular. A second ring element may be positioned in the barrel wall. The second ring element may be connected to the other ring element with an adhesive bond or a connecting element.

A ball bat includes a barrel wall with a composite laminate structure that includes an outwardly facing skin, an inwardly facing skin, a stack of composite laminate plies positioned between the outwardly facing skin and the inwardly facing skin, and a discontinuity in the stack forming a gap along a longitudinal axis of the bat. A rigid or semi-rigid appliance may be positioned in the gap. The appliance may be a ring element, which may have a cross-section that traverses the composite laminate plies in the stack in a direction that is perpendicular or oblique to the longitudinal axis of the bat. The cross-section of the ring element may be triangular. A second ring element may be positioned in the barrel wall. The second ring element may be connected to the other ring element with an adhesive bond or a connecting element.

Provided herein are grip devices, grip members and a set of grip devices for the handle of a hockey stick. The grips generally are a hollow member with a substantially cuboidal body adapted to receive the handle therein. The devices have an outer surface and a bore defining a cuboidal inner surface therein with proximal and distal open ends. A slit is formed into the bore between the open ends through which the handle is securely and removably received. The outer diameter of the grip is uniform along the length. The grip may have a stop member formed within the bore.

A protective cover is configured to protect a grip end of a bat. For example, a baseball bat, a softball bat, a cricket bat or other bat. The protective cover has a substantially cylindrical body and an open end for receiving the grip end of the bat. In some embodiments, the grip end of the bat is inserted into the open top end of the body and the body is slid onto and over the grip end to couple the protective cover with the bat. Alternatively, the body may be placed on the grip end of the bat and zipped and/or otherwise closed to couple with and protect the grip end of the bat. The protective cover protects the grip end of the bat from damage as well as provides cushion to prevent damage to external objects and injury to other individuals when the bat is not being used.

A protective cover is configured to protect a grip end of a bat. For example, a baseball bat, a softball bat, a cricket bat or other bat. The protective cover has a substantially cylindrical body and an open end for receiving the grip end of the bat. In some embodiments, the grip end of the bat is inserted into the open top end of the body and the body is slid onto and over the grip end to couple the protective cover with the bat. Alternatively, the body may be placed on the grip end of the bat and zipped and/or otherwise closed to couple with and protect the grip end of the bat. The protective cover protects the grip end of the bat from damage as well as provides cushion to prevent damage to external objects and injury to other individuals when the bat is not being used.

Provided herein are grip devices and handle grips for the handle of a baseball bat. The devices and grips generally are a hollow member with a substantially cylindrical body or a tubular sleeve adapted to receive the handle therein. The devices and grips have an outer surface and a bore defining an inner surface therein with proximal and distal open ends. A slit is formed into the bore between the open ends through which the handle is securely and removably received. The outer diameter of the grip is uniform along the length. The diameter of the bore may be uniform along its length or greater than the uniform diameter at the proximal open end and tapering to the uniform diameter.

Provided herein are grip devices and handle grips for the handle of a baseball bat. The devices and grips generally are a hollow member with a substantially cylindrical body or a tubular sleeve adapted to receive the handle therein. The devices and grips have an outer surface and a bore defining an inner surface therein with proximal and distal open ends. A slit is formed into the bore between the open ends through which the handle is securely and removably received. The outer diameter of the grip is uniform along the length. The diameter of the bore may be uniform along its length or greater than the uniform diameter at the proximal open end and tapering to the uniform diameter.